NHL Rumors: Bertuzzi-Moore, Johansen, Kaberle and Hayes

Bob McKenzie: The legal representatives for Todd Bertuzzi and Steve Moore are deep into talks regarding reaching an out of court settlement. Multiple sources are saying that a settlement to not go to trial is possible, talks are ongoing.

Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch: Contract talks between the Blue Jackets and Ryan Johansen have been quiet for four weeks. Both sides appear to holding ground on their positions. They are about $3 million apart on a two-year deal. There are currently no plans for talks. GM Jarmo Kekalainen has said that talks have “not become personal” and there’s “plenty of time to get a deal done.” The Blue Jackets are thought to be offering between $3.5 and $4 million a year with Johansen looking for upwards of $7 million. Johansen could sign an offer sheet, with Kekalainen saying they would match it.

“It’s a business,” Kekalainen said. “But for me, the team is always first. Everything we do — whether you’re a star, a fourth-liner, a grinder, the tough guy, a depth guy — this is all about the team.

“That’s why you have to be in camp the first day. That’s when it starts, and that’s when the team comes together. It’s very, very important that we start as a team. To me, that is huge. That’s going to be a very serious matter from a team point of view.”

Johansen’s agent Kurt Overhardt.

“This is a very unique, top-line player in the NHL,” Overhardt said. “There’s a clear market for a player of this caliber; it’s a small market, but he’s one of them. There are several teams that covet his size, his skill and his continued upside.”

Overhardt on if it would be hard for Johansen to miss part of training camp.

“Nope,” he said. “If he’s not in camp, the pressure slips to the other side.”

Michael Triakos of the National Post: Tomas Kaberle isn’t ready to retire from hockey just yet and hopes to return to the NHL for another season or two. He hasn’t received any contract offers, but there could be a tryout on the table.

“It’s not in Ontario,” Kaberle said Monday at the BioSteel Pro Hockey Camp at St. Michael’s College. “I’m planning to stay around here if possible, so we’ll see what’s going to happen in the next few weeks.”

Mark Divver: Bruins coach Claude Julien was also pitching Kevin Hayes to join the Bruins the other day, along with GM Peter Chiarelli, and even Charlie Jacobs.

Craig Morgan: Sources saying the Coyotes have had several conversations with Kevin Hayes, his agent and family, but he won’t be signing with them.

Not even close. Outside of Toronto, Leiweke and MLSE are a non-issue. Even as someone that is interested in all 30 teams, I couldn’t care less about rumors of a CEO stepping down.

hotwings

August 20, 2014 at 3:42 pm

well sorry, it is a big issue. the leafs are the most valuable and most talked about franchise in the NHL … for Leiweke to basically say that he is going to give it this season and be non-committal about the future is definitely a big story.

ChrisB

August 20, 2014 at 9:57 pm

It shouldn’t be a big issue, at least in regards to the Leafs and the hockey side of MLSE, but the media sure is making it into one, considering Friedman’s speculation of Liewicke stepping down ‘soon’ is pretty open-ended. Soon could mean anything. Tomorrow? Next year? 5 years? who knows? But its August, this is what happens.

Liewicke was much more involved with the Raptors and Toronto FC than he was with the Leafs. He hired Shanahan to run that show. Even if he steps down tomorrow, I don’t think its going to impact the Leafs nearly as much as it would the Raptors and especially FC. If it does at all.